Chugach land management plan amendment proposal scoping information : Chugach National Forest

Historic, Archive Document

Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

xSj)

Jnited States
)epartment of
.griculture

FOREST SERVICE

Chugach

National

Forest

RlO-MB-163
December 1991

CHUGACH LAND
MANAGEMENT PLAN
AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
SCOPING INFORI^ATION

CHUGACH NATIONAL FOREST ' ‘

t. V? c:

Forest

Service

Chugach

National

Forest

201 E. 9th Ave.

Suite 206

Anchorage, AK 99501

United States
Department of
Agriculture

Reply to: 1950

Date: December 9, 1991

Dear Participant:

The Chugach National Forest is Initiating a planning process to examine
management direction in the current Chugach Land Management Plan for Prince
William Sound and the Copper Delta in light of events following the March 24,
1989 oil spill at Bligh Reef. As a result of the oil spill, public demand for
resource outputs from the forest may have changed. I hope you will choose to
actively participate in this planning process. Enclosed with this letter is a
scoping document, which provides more detail on the proposal.

Your name is on our current public involvement mailing list, and I thank you for
your past participation with the Forest Service’s land management planning
activities .

You may be asking, why is the Forest Service inviting me to become involved with
this planning process? As a participant, you can contribute valuable
information concerning issues and suggest alternatives that we may be
overlooking. Plus, your comments at an early stage will assist in collecting
the appropriate data, analyze information, and respond to concerns in a timely
manner. At the conclusion of the scoping period we will redefine issues
currently being considered, and generate alternatives that address those
issues. I invite you to take the time to review the enclosure and provide us
your thoughts.

We would like your written comments by January 31, 1992 to address your
concerns. We will accept your comments after January 31, 1992, however, the
earlier comments are received in the process the greater their potential
effect. If you would rather, feel free to visit our office or telephone the
Interdisciplinary planning team leader, Gary Lehnhausen in Anchorage, at (907)
271-2560.

Please use the public comment form enclosed to provide us with your comments and
to indicate whether you wish to continue to receive our mailings . These
mailings will keep you updated on our planning progress for Prince William Sound
and the Copper River Delta. You do not have to use the response form provided,
you may send us your comments in a personal letter or give us a call, if you
prefer.

Thank you again, and we look forward to working with you. Your contribution
early in the process can make a difference.

Forest Supervisor

Enclosures

CHUGACH LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN AMENDMENT

PROPOSAL

PUBLIC COMMENT FORM

Please use this form or a similar format to provide us with your
comments on future management of Prince William Sound and the
Copper River Delta.

Name: Date:

(please print)

Do we have your correct address? YES NO. If not please

provide it below.

Address:

City: State: Zip:

If you did not receive this document in the mail, you are not on our
mailing list for this project. If you would like to be included in
future mailings, please print your address above. If you officially
represent any group, institution, or organization please also list that
group’s name.

DO YOU WISH TO RECEIVE FUTURE MAILINGS ABOUT THIS PROJECT?
YES NO.

If yes, we will maintain you on our project mailing list. If we do not
hear from you, you may be dropped from the list.

This response form is designed to help make it easier for you to
prepare your comments for us. You do not have to use this form -
feel free to send a personal letter or give us a call, if you prefer.

We are eager to hear all points of view. Your comments will help us
determine the scope of the issues we need to consider in this
planning process. This process is not a vote. You may be the only
person to express a certain good idea. Your personal knowledge of
an issue or area may strongly influence a final decision.

We are looking forward to your comments.

SCENIC QUALITY - What areas should be managed to emphasize
scenic resources?

* We want to know how you would like to see this portion of the
Chugach managed for scenic quality.

* We are also very interested to know which specific areas you
think should be emphasized for scenic quality and why.

RECREATION - What areas should be managed to emphasize
recreation opportunities?

* We want to know how you would like to see this portion of the
Chugach managed for recreation opportunities.

* We are also very interested to know which specific areas you
think should be emphasized for recreation opportunities and
why.

FISH HABITAT - What methods should be used to protect resident
and anadromous fish habitat?

* We want to know how you would like to see this portion of the
Chugach managed for fish habitat.

* We are also very interested to know which specific streams
and drainages should be managed to maintain natural
conditions and where restoration of fish habitat or
enhancement activities are appropriate, if any, and why.

WILDLIFE HABITAT - How do we manage Prince William Sound
and the Copper River Delta to conserve the diversity of biological
resources that are dependent on naturally functioning ecosystems
while addressing the needs of people?

* We want to know how you would like to see this area managed
for old-growth and undeveloped habitat and what kinds of
restoration or enhancement activities are appropriate, if any.

We are also very interested to know which areas you think
should be emphasized for old-growth and undeveloped habitat
and where enhancement or restoration activities are
appropriate and why.

SUBSISTENCE - What should the Forest Service do to continue pro-
viding subsistence opportunities?

* We want to know how you would like to see this area managed
for subsistence.

* We are also very interested to know which specific areas you
think should be emphasized for subsistence, why and what
access should be provided, if any.

WILDERNESS - In order to emphasize or protect unique resource
values, should any new areas be recommended to Congress as
Special-Designation Areas and should there be any changes in the
recommended Nellie Juan-College Fiord wilderness area?

* We want to know how you would like to see this area managed
for wilderness and other kinds of special emphasis.

* We are also very interested to know which specific areas you
think should be emphasized for wilderness or some other
Special-Designation and why.

MINERALS - What areas and accessibility should be emphasized for
exploration, development and production of mineral resources?

* We want to know how you would like to see this portion of the
Chugach managed for minerals.

* We are also very interested to know which specific areas you
think should be emphasized for minerals and why.

TIMBER HARVESTING - What areas of Prince William Sound and
the Copper River Delta should be managed to emphasize timber
harvesting?

* We want to know how you would like to see this portion of the
Chugach managed for timber harvesting.

* We are also very interested to know which specific areas you
think should be emphasized for timber harvesting and why.

How well did we cover the issues?

Please take a few minutes to let us know if you have a concern that
wasn't covered in the issues. Feel free to make any other comments
you would like about the materials you have received, or any aspect
of Forest planning or management.

We will accept your comments at any time during the planning
process. However, in order to ensure that your comments can be '
used to help determine the scope of our analysis we need your
comments by January 31, 1992. If we receive your comments after
that date they may still be useful to us in later stages of the planning
process.

Please submit your comments to:

Chugach National Forest
201 East 9th Avenue
Suite 206

Anchorage, AK 99501
Attn: Gary Lehnhausen
(907) 271-2560

COMMENTS

Attach additional sheets if needed. Please fold, staple and stamp. Thank you for your time.

Return Address

Place

Stamp

Here

■I

Chugach National Forest
201 E. 9th Avenue, Suite 206
Anchorage, AK 99501

ATTN: Gary Lehnhausen - Forest Planning Team Leader

Additional Comments:

Plan Amendment Of The Chugach National Forest Land And
Resource Management Plan For Prince William Sound And
The Copper River Delta Scoping Information

The intent of this document is to seek public input to the proposed
Plan amendment of the Chugach Land and Resource Management
Plan (CLMP). It also includes some information about the current
management emphasis within the analysis area. We invite you to
read it and send us your thoughts and comments. The issues,
concerns and opportunities identified by the public will help us
determine the appropriate scope of our analysis.

Where is the Analysis Area?

The proposed analysis area includes all land and water within the
exterior boundaries of Management Areas 5-9, as designated in the
Chugach Land Management Plan. These include the Nellie Juan,
College Fiord, Gravina, Big Islands and Copper River Management
Areas.

What is the purpose of the Plan Amendment?

The primary purpose and need for this amendment process is to re-
examine the management direction in the current Chugach Land
Management Plan’s five Management Areas affected by the March
24, 1989 oil spill at Bligh Reef. In response to that event, hundreds
of millions of dollars have been spent in clean-up and millions more
in assessment. As a result. Prince William Sound has gained National
attention. Initial comments indicate that public demand for
resource outputs from the Forest may have changed. Future
management of the Sound and the Copper River Delta could also
benefit from the application of a "New Perspectives" approach by
addressing the ecosystems for the sustainability of all their values
and uses. New Perspectives was formed by the Forest Service to
help managment in the 1990 Resource Planning Act (RPA) Program
and new Forest Plans. This direction is in response to new scientific
knowledge about how ecosystems function and the changing values
of the American people about how their forests should be managed.

Page 1

The Plan's management direction must also take into account the
increased importance of these resources to the American public and
must guide potential oil spill restoration needs.

This potential amendment to the Plan will be programmatic in
nature. To remain consistent with the programmatic nature of the
current Plan, it will not deal with site-specific project level
management direction.

The specific objectives for amending the Plan are to provide
management direction for the Sound and the Delta that would
provide for:

* long term maintenance and productivity of healthy,
biologically diverse ecosystems, through the use of "New
Perspectives" management principals

* guidance of restoration activities for any resource damaged
by the March 24, 1989 oil spill

* habitat conditions that will maintain minimum viable
populations of all native and desirable introduced species
well-distributed through the project area

* protection of objects of ecological, cultural, geological,
historical, prehistorical and scientific interest

* continued opportunities for subsistence uses

* continued protection of wilderness qualities within the
identified Nellie Juan-College Fiord "Wilderness Study" area.

* continued opportunities for sport and commercial fisheries

* opportunities for scientific research, interpretation and
environmental education

* outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities consistent
with the purposes of the unit

Page 2

* continued opportunities for resource development and
utilization as appropriate

* a cooperative and coordinated ecosystem management
approach which is considerate of the goals of the State of
Alaska, regional and village Native corporations and other
Federal agencies which manage resources within Prince
William Sound and the Copper River Delta

What kinds of decisions will be made?

The Forest Supervisor will be making the following decisions based
on the environmental analysis:

* What changes need to be made in current Forest Plan
direction for Management Areas 5-9 to supply goods and
services which are responsive to society's needs today
while being considerate of the current land and resource
managernent goals of other land owners and resource
managers within the Sound and Delta.

What options were considered to determine what changes
need to be made in current Forest Plan direction?

The options that were considered for making an informed decision
and to involve the public are: revision of the Forest Plan; proceed

with Management Area Analysis for the Nellie Juan, College Fiord,
Gravina and Copper River Management Areas, and review the
completed Big Islands Management Area Analysis as needed; and
initiation of an amendment of the Chugach Land Management Plan
for Management Areas 5-9.

Amendment of the Forest Plan was selected for a number of reasons.
Revision of the entire Forest Plan would include management areas
1-4 which include the road Corridor, East Side, Crescent Lake and the
Resurrection Pass areas of the Kenai Peninsula. These areas were not
directly affected by the 1989 oil spill. The Kenai Peninsula area of
the forest is a distinctly different ecological system than Prince
William Sound and the Copper River Delta and they are separated
geographically by the Kenai Mountains. Because of this it is
appropriate to consider only Management Areas 5-9 at this time.

Page 3

Proceeding with a series of Management Area Analysis could result
in large, continuous tracts of natural habitat becoming increasingly
fragmented and isolated by a network of developed lands. Also,
interested publics view Prince William Sound and the Copper River
Delta in their entirety, rather than a group of individual units. Forest
planning done on a landscape scale will minimize the chances of
habitat fragmentation as land management direction is implemented.

For these reasons. Forest Supervisor, Bruce Van Zee selected
amendment of the Forest Plan as the appropriate process to review
existing managment direction for Prince William Sound and the
Copper River Delta.

An expectation for this amendment process is that the requirements
for Management Area Analyses for the area addressed by the
amendment would be satisfied and thus would eliminate the need
for separated Management Area Analyses. This is to be
accomplished through public involvement and identification of
management alternatives that are acceptabe to the participants of
the settlement agreement.

How does this analysis relate to the current Chugach Land
Management Plan:

The proposed Chugach Land Management Plan amendment analysis
area includes all land and water within the exterior boundaries of
Management Areas 5-9 as designated in the Chugach Land
Management Plan. Shown below is a breakdown of the project area
to be considered and present management direction from the
Chugach Land Management Plan.

Management Area Present Management Emphasis

5 Nellie Juan Conserve wildlife and fish habitat.

Maintain dispersed recreation
opportunities.

Maintain landscape character.
Recommend Wilderness Designation.
Timber harvest goal: no timber

Page 4

This

Forest Plan Amendment Study Area

Chugach National Forest

Tbit 4l|l(il (iila|rifble prodaci i

I Aacborigt hj lb« Cba|i<b t

Current as of September 24, 1991

6 College Fiord

harvest is identified in the timber
harvest schedule located in Plan
Amendment #1 (Settlement
Agreement).

THIS MANAGMENT AREA MUST BE
MANAGED TO PROTECT ITS
SUITABILITY FOR WILDERNESS
DESIGNATION UNTIL CONGRESS
REMOVES THE "WILDERNESS
STUDY" DESIGNATIION IDENTIFIED
IN ANILCA.

Increase developed recreation
opportunities.

Enhance marine oriented recreation
opportunities.

Provide unroaded recreation
opportunites.

Maintain landscape character.
Recommend wilderness designation
for portions of the management area.
Maintain wildlife habitat.

Improve fish habitat.

Timber harvest goal: no timber
harvest is identified in the timber
harvest schedule located in Forest

Plan amendment #1.

THIS MANAGEMENT AREA MUST
BE MANAGED TO PROTECT ITS
SUITABILITY FOR WILDERNESS
DESIGNATION UNTIL CONGRESS
REMOVES THE "WILDERNESS
STUDY" DESIGNATION IDENTIFIED
IN ANILCA.

Page 5

7 Gravina

8 Big Islands

9 Copper River

Improve marine oriented recreation
opportunities.

Maintain wildlife habitat.

Improve fish habitat.

Timber harvest goal: Harvest an
average of 2.0 MMBF annually for
10 years (Forest Plan Amendment
# 1 )

Increase developed and dispersed
recreation opportunities
Maintain landscape character.
Enhance marine oriented recreation
opportunities.

Maintain wildlife habitat
Improve fish habitat
Timber harvest goal: Harvest an

average of 3.6 MMBF annually for 10
years (Forest Plan Amendment #1)

Conservation of fish and wildlife and
their habitat shall be the primary
purpose as required by Section
501(b) of ANILCA.

Maintain and increase dispersed and
developed recreation opportunities.
Maintain landscape character.

Timber harvest goal: Harvest an
average of .25 MMBF annually for 10
yeaars (Forest Plan Amendment #1)

Page 6

What issues are already being considered?

In the 1984 Chugach Land Mangement Plan, three major issues were
addressed: Wilderness recommendations, effects of land ownership
changes on the forest, and allocation of forest goods and services and
standards and guidelines. The Allocation issue was divided into
twelve categories reflecting national forest resources and Forest
Service programs. These categories include: recreation opportunities
and facilities, visual resources, cultural resources, wildlife and fish
habitat, research natural areas, timber management activities, water,
soil and watershed management, fire management, forest health,
special use permits, transportation systems and utility corridors.

These same issues continue today. Of particular concern now, as then
in the Prince William Sound and Copper River Delta ecosystems are the
amount and location of land allocated to scenic and recreation values,
fish and wildlife habitat, commercial timber harvesting, and mineral
exploration and development.

Listed below are tentative issues that we feel need to be addressed in
this amendment proposal. Management of Prince William Sound and
the Copper River Delta is likely to be of concern to many people such
as the recreationist, outfitter guides, commercial fisherman,
subsistence users, and timber purchasers. The Job of the Forest
Service as the managing agency for Prince William Sound and the
Copper River Delta is to balance the wants and needs of all diverse
groups. These issues will probably be expanded and refined following
the scoping process.

The issues presented below are in the form of questions. An overview
of each issue is presented followed by issue analysis criteria. The
issue analysis criteria will be used by the decision maker to determine
the degree to which each alternative responds to the issues. There is
not likely to be one management approach that is fully responsive to
all issues.

Page 7

Issue 1. What areas should be managed to emphasize
scenic resources?

Overview:

The Prince William Sound and Copper River Delta ecosystems are a
unique combination of land and marine environments. Combinations
of vegetation patterns, rugged mountains, fresh and salt water,
glaciers and snow fields create a landscape of high scenic value.

Areas in and around Prince William Sound itself receive use with a
strong salt water orientation. With its rugged ice-covered mountains
as a backdrop, the Sound is a landscape of vast proportions and high
contrast. The Copper River Delta area, near the town of Cordova is
noted for its wildlife values, but is no less rich in scenic quality. The
vast expanse of marsh land traversed by meandering streams and
backed by rugged mountains results in outstanding scenic quality.
This world-class scenery, resulting from the unique interaction of
mountain and ocean environments, draws thousands of visitors each
year. Visitors view this landscape from cruise ships, privately owned
boats, small aircraft and by vehicle from the Copper River Highway.
Tourism has become a major industry in Southcentral Alaska.
Maintaining the scenic quality of the Forest landscape is of concern to
Forest visitors, individuals, groups, businesses and communities.

Issue Analysis Criteria:

1. The degree to which each alternative maintains the high quality
visual resources that currently exist.

Issue 2. What areas should be managed to emphasize
recreation opportunities?

Overview:

Because of its proximity to Anchorage and because of the wide variety
of recreational opportunities that exist there, the project area is one of
Alaska's favorite playgrounds. Although relatively close to Anchorage,
much of the area is not accessible by roads or trails. Visitors and
residents alike recognize the unique recreation experience afforded by
a lack of roads and the necessity of boat access.

Page 8

Issue Analysis Criteria:

1. The degree to which non-motorized recreation use or capacity is
affected.

2. The degree to which motorized recreation use or capacity is
affected.

3. The degree to which developed recreation use or capacity is
affected.

Issue 3. What methods should be used to protect resident
and anadromous fish habitat?

Overview:

Prince William Sound and the Copper River Delta have long been
significant producers of wild salmon in Alaska. These salmon stocks,
along with other fish species, support a diverse, economically
important, and culturally significant fisheries. As witnessed by the
near extinction of salmon stocks in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and
California, the fish stocks in Prince William Sound and the Copper
River Delta are not immune to depletion. Depletion of genetic
diversity is the first step towards the loss of fish numbers; occurring
slowly, almost imperceptibly, due to the cumulative impacts of
numerous perturbations (e.g., timbering, hydropower development,
fishing, introduction of disease through stocking, etc...) Streamside
habitat provides important shelter, hiding places, food, and rearing
areas for Alaska's fish. Furthermore, changes in streamside habitat
can alter instream habitat and hence affect a stream's ability to
produce fish.

Issue Analysis Criteria:

1. The number of acres and length of streamside buffer and instream
habitat affected.

2. The degree to which water quality is affected.

3. The degree to which fishing use days are affected.

Issue 4. How do we manage Prince William Sound and the
Copper River Delta to conserve the diversity of
biological resources that are dependent on
naturally functioning ecosystems while
addressing the needs of people?

Page 9

Overview:

The Prince William Sound and Copper River Delta ecosystems,
comprising some 4.7 million acres, supports a wide variey of wildlife
and plant species. It has one of the largest breeding populations of
grizzly bears and bald eagles and the only breeding population of
Dusky Canada geese in the world. The area provides habitat to an
abundance of marine mammals and seabird colonies. Many of the
species are "forest interior species" which require large blocks of
undeveloped habitat to maintain viable, genetically diverse
populations. Alaskans and visitors find subsistence and sport hunting
of moose, caribou, mountain goat, Dali's sheep, grizzly and black bear.
Many species of furbearers, waterfowl, upland game birds and game
also provide the public with sport, commercial and subsistence
opportunities. Demand is also growing for opportunities to watch and
photograph wildlife.

Problems of scale and how to contend with the multiple arrays of
temporal and spatial scales affecting ecological processes are central to
this issue and to this entire planning effort. Analysis on the landscape
level allows us to examine the "big picture" of pattern and process.
Landscapes are an important spatial scale for addressing biological
diversity. Landscape scales range from thousands to millions of acres.
At all scales an overriding theme of this Amendment and resultant
management philosophy is "maintaining future options".

Issue Analysis Criteria:

1. To what degree may proposed actions affect population viability of
all native and desired non-native species, especially those sensitive to
habitat fragmentation and/or human disturbance?

2. What degree of protection, restoration and renewal of rare, unique
and highly productive communities of plants and animals will be
provided?

3. To what degree will the capability of wildlife habitats to sustain
human purposes be affected?

4. To what degree will wildlife viewing opportunities be affected?

5. What amount of old-growth and undeveloped habitat will be
protected for wildlife and how is it distributed across the project area?

Page 10

Issue 5. What should the Forest Service do to continue
providing subsistence opportunities?

Overview:

For some people, subsistence is hunting, fishing, trapping and
gathering natural resources to provide needed food which is
supplemental to their income. For others, especially Southcentral
Alaska's Native Americans, subsistence is much more than collecting
food: it is a lifestyle that preserves cultural customs and traditions,
reflecting deeply-held attitudes, values and beliefs. Because many
industries in Alaska are seasonal and cyclical in nature, subsistence
resources are important to many Southcentral Alaskans.

Issue Analysis Criteria:

1. What is the likelihood that proposed activities "may" affect the
availablity of subsistence resource use opportunities?

2. To what degree would each alternative result in a significant
restriction or shift in subsistence use patterns?

Issue 6. In order to emphasize or protect unique resource
values, should any new areas be recommended to
Congress as Special-Designation Areas and should
there be any changes in the recommended Nellie
Juan-College Fiord wilderness area?

Overview:

One of the major unresolved issues identified in the 1984 Chugach
Land Management Plan is the recommendation for wilderness
designations which have not been provided to Congress for action.

Some organizations and individuals see Wilderness designation in
Alaska as the Nation's last opportunity to preserve large tracts of
lands that are relatively untouched by human activity. To these
individuals and organizations a Congressionally designated "Special-
Designation Area" is the only long term guarantee that there would be
no future major development in these areas. Special-Designations are
generally used to focus forest management direction to emphasize or
protect unique resource values. Management direction is usually more
restrictive in these areas than on other forest lands. Some Special-
Designations such as Wilderness areas. National Recreation areas and
National Monuments can only be authorized by Congress.

Page 1 1

Other kinds of Special Areas can be administratively designated by the
Regional Forester or the Secretary of Agriculture. Stressing Alaska's
storehouse of minerals and timber, others feel that resource
development should be permitted and that any "Special-Designation"
would only "lock-up" valuable resource development opportunities.

The 1980 Alaska Lands Act (Section 704) identified the Nellie Juan-
College Fiord Wilderness Study Area (calculated during development
of the Forest Plan to be 2,116,000 acres) to be reviewed by the
Secretary of Agriculture to determine the suitability or non-suitability
for preservation as wilderness. Until Congress has acted on the
wilderness recommendation identified in the "Wilderness Final
Environmental Impact Statement", (1,703,000 acres) Forest Plan
direction is to manage the entire Study area so as to maintain its
presently existing wilderness character. Once Congress acts on the
wilderness designation of the Study Area, under current Forest Plan
direction those areas not put into a wilderness classification will be
managed for other resource values.

Issue Analysis Criteria:

1. What degree of protection or emphasis is provided to areas of
outstanding outdoor recreation, scenic, scientific and historic values?

2. What degree of management emphasis is provided for the unique
resource values of the area?

3. To what degree are the values of wild and scenic rivers protected
or emphasized?

4. What degree of protection or emphasis is provided to the
wilderness values of the area?

Issue 7. What areas and accessibilty should be emphasized
for exploration, development and production of
mineral and energy resources?

Overview:

The Chugach National Forest contains immense mineral resources.
Minerals that occur on the Forest range from precious metals to
chemical grade minerals. Mining and mineral exploration are not new
to Southcentral Alaska. In fact, mining activities have occurred for
over one hundred years. Today, along with new explorations, many
historical mineral deposits are being revisited. This renewed interest
in mining could, directly or indirectly, employ many people in
Southcentral Alaska.

Page 12

I ssue Analysis Criteria:

1. What is the minerals development potential provided?

2. To what extent can other resource values be protected during
minerals development activities?

3. What amount of commodity values can be produced through
minerals development?

Issue 8. What areas of the Chugach should be managed to
emphasize timber harvesting?

Overview:

Forest Plan Amendment Number 4 is the Record of Decision for the
Big Islands Management Area Final Environmental Impact Statement
dated July 17, 1989. The Decision provided authorization for the
Chugach Alaska Corporation to construct a temporary road between
MacLeod Harbor and Patton Bay on Montague Island. Timber harvest
activities beyond the road corridor are not authorized in the Big
Islands project area. To authorize additional timber harvest in other
areas of the Forest would require completion of additional
Management Area Analyses or this proposed Plan amendment.

Although the current amended Forest Plan would allow for the harvest
of 6.3 MMBF annually, actual harvest has averaged about 1-2 MMBF
annually. Since 1984 some 157,700 acres of National Forest land
have been conveyed to the State of Alaska and various Native
Corporations. Many of these lands were the better timber production
lands. The Chugach Alaska Corporation constructed a modern mill in
Seward, however due to financial difficulties the mill has recently
suspended operations. The future demand for timber resources and
associated affects on local economies are not clear at this time.

Issue Analysis Criteria:

1. What is the annual allowable sale quantity?

2. To what extent can other resource values be protected during
timber harvest activities?

How will issues be used?

The issues raised, if identified early in the planning process, are used
to guide needed field investigations, resource analysis, alternative
development and evaluation, and ultimately the decisions being made.

Page 13

This process of identifying issues is designed to help guide the
planning process, and is not a public vote. We will address all
concerns whether that concern is raised by one person or many.

How can I help?

Many people ask themselves, "why should I get involved?" As a
public participant, you can contribute valuable information on issues
we may be overlooking. You may be more familiar with specific
portions of the analysis area than our planning team. So please take a
few minutes to send us your thoughts. We appreciate your input and
to be most helpful, we would like your comments to be specific and
factual concerning this Chugach Land Management Plan Amendment
proposal.

To be most effective, your comments should include additional issues
and alternatives you think we should consider. Please identify any
specific concerns you may have concerning this plan amendment
proposal:

* Concerns with the present land management emphasis. Are there
specific resource management activities you feel are no longer
appropriate within the analysis area? Can you identify specific
locations where such activities should not occur?

* Concerns with how a change in management emphasis could affect
resources used for subsistence lifestyles within the analysis area.

What bays, rivers, or drainages are of most concern to you? Which
resources most concern your subsistence lifestyle? What management
emphasis changes could the Forest Service make that would improve
subsistence resource use opportunities within the analysis area?

* Concerns with broad management emphasis or philosophy within
the Prince William Sound and Copper River Delta ecosystems. How
might this plan amendment proposal be designed to benefit the
resources of the area? What specific areas, resources or actions
should be considered in this planning effort?

Page 14

If you prefer, feel free to visit our office in Anchorage at 201 E. 9th
Avenue, Suite 201, or telephone the planning team leader, Gary
Lehnhausen at (907) 271-2560. If you think we might have
missed someone who is interested in this Chugach Land Management
Plan amendment proposal, please share this information with them
and ask them to contact us.

Located at the beginning of this document is a public response form
that when detached, can be mailed back to our office. Feel free to
attach extra sheets, or mark your comments on the analysis area map
found at the center of the document. Please send us your comments,
so that they arrive by January 31, 1992. We will accept your
comments at any time during the planning process, but the earlier
they are received in the process the greater their potential affect on
the final decision.

Page 15